The consultation period runs until Thursday 22nd December 2011 Proposed

The draft Re-appraisal and Management Plan document is available for viewing in the following locations: BILLING ROAD 6 Central Library, Abington Street 6 One Stop Shop at the Guildhall, St Giles Square

You can download a copy (5.5Mb) from the Borough Council website: www.northampton.gov.uk/consultation Or, contact the Conservation Team: telephone: (01604) 837637 e-mail: [email protected] Or, write to us at our FREEPOST address: Conservation Team, Northampton Borough Council, FREEPOST MID 17237, Northampton, NN1 1WJ Questionnaires are available from any of the above locations, or use the on-line form.

If you would like a copy of this leaflet in large print, Braille, audiotape or a translation into another language, please contact:

AJGrayon 01604 837861 or @ [email protected]

Planning Policy & Conservation Northampton Borough Council, The Guildhall, St Giles Square, Northampton NN1 1DE About this leaflet Demolition of buildings The Billing Road Conservation Area is a proposed new conservation Conservation area consent is required for the demolition of most area designation. This is an urban area lying immediately to the east of buildings and structures, including walls and outhouses. If demolition is Northampton town centre. The Billing Road is one of the main roads being considered then advice should be sought from the council. providing access to the town centre from the east. The Council would Trees like to create this new conservation area because of the consistently high architectural quality of the buildings which line the north side of If you wish to prune or fell trees above a certain size (those with a trunk the Billing Road and part of Cliftonville. diameter of over 7.5cm at a height of 1.5 m) within a conservation area, you are required to give the council six weeks notice in writing. The architecture of this area provides excellent examples of status- conscious mid-Victorian building between 1850 and1890. There are a Design of new development variety of house types, terraced, semi-detached and large detached, The council has the power to require a very high standard of design ranging from modest freeholds to important architectural commissions. which is sympathetic to the existing boot and shoe industry Each building is striving to establish its own special level of environment. New development must make a positive contribution to respectability. The contrast between uniformity and individuality, the character of the area. This can mean you will need to submit fashion and eccentricity creates visual vitality and interest along its additional information about your plan – for example full details of the entire length. The inhabitants included a former Town Clerk, several proposal, how it relates to adjacent buildings, and examples of boot and shoe manufacturers, and Pickering Phipps of the important materials and colours. Usually only a fully detailed planning application local brewing firm and twice mayor of the Borough. will be considered, which should be accompanied by a design statement. What we need to know The council will advertise all planning applications affecting the character of a conservation area both on-site and in the local paper. This short leaflet aims to provide some highlights about the architecture and character of the Billing Road, taken from the full appraisal used to inform the decision to propose a new conservation Conservation Area Advisory Committees area (for information on how to find the Some of the existing conservation areas benefit from Conservation appraisal see the back cover of this leaflet). Area Advisory Committees. These are independent community-led It may be helpful to read the full appraisal groups. They set their own terms of reference and priorities in order to contribute towards the protection and enhancement of these before completing the questionnaire as it conservation areas. Northampton Borough Council consults these provides an in-depth view about the history groups on planning applications within conservation areas so that they of the area. can use their local knowledge to help influence change and We would like your views on whether we development. should designate a new conservation area If you are interested in being part of an Advisory Committee for this for the Billing Road, and on the proposed area, please indicate this on the questionnaire. boundary. 34-35 Billing Road (Addison Villas) 2 11 What does living in a Conservation Area mean? There is a short questionnaire in the middle of this leaflet for you to pull out and return to a FREEPOST address, or you can reply on-line at The designation of a conservation area indicates the council's positive www.northampton.gov.uk/consultation. commitment to these areas and its intention to preserve and enhance the quality of the environment. However, conservation areas are not The proposed Billing Road Conservation Area open-air museums but living communities which must be allowed to change over time in order to remain vital and prosperous. It is important that all new development in conservation areas should be sympathetic to the special architectural and aesthetic qualities of the area, particularly in terms of scale, design, materials and space between buildings. It is important to note that the designation of a conservation area will not affect changes which have already taken place. Rather, it will seek to ensure future change does not detract from the historic character of the area. The council has statutory powers to control changes within conservation areas. It is always advisable to seek planning advice before making any changes. This is because, in addition to the normal requirements for making planning applications, in a conservation area, planning permission is required for work that would ordinarily constitute “permitted development”. This includes: Lyvedon Terrace 6 exterior cladding with different materials, such as imitation stone Stages of development 6 side extensions, or the construction of any other building or Development of this area did not proceed outwards from the town structure to the side of the house centre in an orderly fashion. Most of the buildings along the Billing 6 rear extensions of more than one storey Road date from the 1860s to the 1880s, and show a variety of styles and 6 roof extensions, including insertion of dormer windows tastes which co-existed during that period. The development of the 6 the installation, alteration or replacement of a chimney, flue or soil General Hospital (1793), St Andrew's Hospital (1837) and the cemetery and vent pipe visible from the highway (1847) all preceded the houses. 6 erection of an aerial or satellite dish facing on to the highway Cliftonville and the central part of Billing Road were developed first, 6 installation of solar panels: whether roof- or wall-mounted, if they around 1850-60, with substantial residences set within their own are to be sited on a principal frontage, or facing the highway grounds. Lyveden Terrace (nos 45-49 Billing Road) dates from around 6 limits on the size of domestic and industrial extensions. the same time, whilst other terraces followed in subsequent decades. Addison Villas, by noted local architect Matthew Holding, were among The local authority may also selectively restrict specific development, the last buildings to be completed, with the exception of more recent such as changes to windows, doors, walls and fences, through infill development. applying an Article 4 Direction. 10 3 Characteristics of the area What will the Billing Road Conservation Area mean? There is a marked contrast between the The special character offered by the Billing Road can be protected appearance of the north and south of Billing through its designation as a Conservation Area. The Billing Road Road. The hospital buildings and grounds evaluation has identified that there are relatively few areas of negative dominate the south side, while opposite sit townscape value. The most significant of these is the Billing Road large south-facing villas and imposing Cemetery, particularly the entrance and lodge building. terraces. This is again contrasted by the nine tightly-packed terraced streets which join the The evaluation: Billing Road at right angles from the north – 6 Identified the historically important parts of the area that need to be some of which have been included within the protected new Boot and Shoe Quarter. 6 Provided guidance on how new building and other works can Although the uses of many of the buildings enhance the character of the area and the sense of place have changed over time, the area remains 6 Identified policies that will improve the issues which detract from the fundamentally unaltered since 1890 and Doorway, 44 Billing Road overall character of the area retains its air of prestige. This is an area of exceptionally consistent high- quality buildings. Almost all of the 80-plus buildings included There are already some particular issues which have been identified within the proposed boundary are either listed or are of local list quality already: (noted for their special local architectural and historic interest). 6 Some loss of architectural features and fabric Boundary walls and railings, entrance gates and piers (solid supports) 6 Vulnerability of front gardens, including boundary walls, railings, are a characteristic feature of this area, demonstrating ownership gates and gate posts boundaries, and, together with the evidence of many original individual 6 Commercial advertising and signage house names and terrace names, proclaim a special pride in property. 6 Development of rear extensions and Fine examples of the use of local building materials and a diversity of land in rear gardens with loss of historic architectural embellishments add to the lively ancillary buildings, such as coach houses street presence of the buildings. 6 Parking: signage, traffic management and highway lighting The Billing Road Cemetery opened in 1847. It was originally established by private 6 Condition and potential of Billing Road enterprise on a then out-of-town site. It Cemetery provides a contrasting oasis of green and calm within a now urban setting. Conservation area status can encourage civic pride and a clear sense of place and Single mature trees, some of which may well identity. This can encourage inward date from the late 19th century, punctuate the investment to improve the area. street scene with great presence and add to

Robert Fossett memorial the genteel character of the road. This is in Fence & gate, 30 Billing Road 4 9 contrast to the neighbouring Boot and Shoe Conservation Area which is characterised by few trees and greenspaces. The addition of other garden trees provides summer shade and interest which counteracts the impact of this busy traffic route. What are conservation areas A conservation area is an area which has special architectural or historic interest and whose overall character should be preserved or enhanced. In Northampton there are 20 existing conservation area of different types, covering a wide range of locations, each with their own individual character and architecture. Historically they have typically covered attractive rural villages, such as Hardingstone, and Great Billing; the historic town centre – including building such as All Saints, County Hall and the Guildhall; and the large majestic houses surrounding and the Boundary Racecourse. A recent designation was the Boot and Shoe Quarter, which aims to conserve the industrial heritage of the town. The boundary of the conservation area is defined by what the area offers in terms of character and historical context as a cumulative The designation of the Billing Road Conservation Area will recognise whole, rather than the individual buildings. Listed buildings8-21 Billing have Road and protect the high quality architecture of this area. statutory protection and therefore it is not necessary to include them all within the boundary unless they are fundamental to defining the character of the area as a whole. It is considered that the inclusion of the General Hospital and St Andrew's Hospital do not offer any additional value to the proposed conservation area. These have protection already since they are listed buildings. However, the boundary walls and fences of these sites (along with the gates, gate house of St Andrew’s and the adjoining no 80 Billing Road) have been included within the proposed boundary as they directly contribute towards the character of the Billing Road. The proposed Billing Road Conservation Area lies adjacent to the newly created Boot and Shoe Conservation Area and St Giles Conservation Area. Each of these areas has its own unique character and historic value. St Andrew’s Gate Lodge 8 5 Proposed Billing Road Conservation Area

WILBY STREET

ST EDMUND

BARRY ROAD ’S STREET

Boot and Shoe Conservation Area UPPER THRIFT STREET LOWER THRIFT STREET Billing Road

PALMERSTON ROAD Cemetery

Robert Fossett VERNON TERRACE Memorial

ALEXANDRA ROAD CYRIL STREET ALFRED STREET

VICTORIA ROAD 76 69 DENMARK ROAD BILLING ROAD 58-59 64 YORK ROAD THENFORD STREET 57 45 43 & 44 53 Gate Lodge 39 42 80 40 41 28 29 30 St Andrew’s 36-38 Main Gateway St Giles 14 27 8 21 22 2 7 Conservation BILLING ROAD Area Oxford St Andrew’s Dispensary House Battle House Beaumont Hospital

CLIFTONVILLE General Hospital Sunnyside (front central block) Redlands The Winton THE AVENUE Spring Hill Lindens Villa CLIFTONVILLE CHEYNE WALK Chapel CLIFTONVILLE Springfield ROAD

Proposed boundary of the Listed buildings Buildings making a positive contribution © Crown Copyright. Licence Number 100019655 conservation area